LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the teaching is to provide the basic principles of polymer science and technology to understand the molecular and structural origins of polymeric material properties.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is an introductory teaching on the science and technology of polymeric materials aimed at:

1) acquiring the basic concepts about polymers and their chemical, physical, thermal, mechanical and rheological properties in mass, solution and mixture;

2) understanding the molecular and structural origin of the properties of polymeric materials;

3) knowing the main techniques applied for the molecular and thermal characterization of polymeric materials and how to use them.

The teaching is focused to develop the student's ability to correlate the theoretical notions on polymeric materials with experimental data to formulate general criteria for their characterization and use. To pursue this goal, traditional lectures are always accompanied by concrete examples related to the everyday life as well as the industrial practice. At the end of the teaching the student will be able to:

- know the molecular structure of the mostly employed polymers and classify them according to different parameters;

- express himself with adequate terminology in the description of phenomena and processes involving polymeric materials;

- correlate the chemical, physical, mechanical, thermal and rheological properties of polymeric materials to their composition and structure;

• identify and critically discuss the data available from molecular and thermal characterization techniques of polymeric materials;

-describe and understand the main polymerization mechanisms and the most common industrial processes of polymer synthesis;

- know and understand the thermodynamic bases of polymeric solutions and mixtures.

The teaching is also provided for the degree course in Chemistry and Chemical Technologies (Chemical Technologies curriculum) for 4 CFUs only. Because of the reduced number of CFUs, the learning outcomes do not include the last two points of the aforementioned list for the students of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies.

PREREQUISITES

It is suggested to have overcome the exams of General and Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching consists of traditional lectures for a total of 48 hours, sometimes accompanied with exercises carried out by the teacher in the classroom. Lesson notes are uploaded to the corresponding aul@web page simultaneously with their presentation in the classroom.

In order to facilitate the students’ individual study, verification tests and numerical exercises (with and without resolution) are uploaded to the corresponding aul@web page.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

First part (4 CFUs):

Generalities on polymers and polymeric materials and their classification.

Molecular characterization techniques of polymers (osmometry, viscosimetry, light scattering, ultracentrifugation, gel permeation chromatography).

Solid state polymers: amorphous polymers (common amorphous polymers and their use, glass transition temperature and study of the parameters influencing it), semi-crystalline polymers (common semi-crystalline polymers and their use, the melting temperature and study of the temperatures influencing it, thermodynamics and kinetics of the melting-crystallization process), characterization techniques (densitometry, DSC, determination of crystallinity degree, TGA).

Introduction to rheological properties of polymers in mass and in solution.

Second part (2 CFUs):

Elastomers: thermodynamic and statistical study of elasticity.

Polymers in solution: polymer-solvent interactions, the Flory-Huggins model.

Introduction to polymeric blends.

Basics on polymers synthesis.

Because of the reduced number of expected CFUs, the second part of the teaching is not provided to students of the degree course in Chemistry and Chemical Technologies (Chemical Technologies curriculum).

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Scienza e tecnologie dei materiali, D. R. Askeland, P. P. Fulay, W. J. Wright – Edizioni Città Studi, 2017

Fondamenti di Struttura, Proprietà e Tecnologia dei Polimeri- Testi AIM - Edizioni Nuova Cultura, 2011

Fondamenti di Scienza dei Polimeri - M. Guaita, F. Ciardelli, E. Pedemonte - Pacini Editore, 2009

Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali Polimerici - S. Bruckner, G. Allegra, M. Pegoraro, F.P. La Mantia- EdiSES, 2007

Fundamentals of Polymer Science – P. C. Painter, M. M. Coleman - Technomic Publishing Co., Inc. , 1997- 2nd edition.

Polymers: Chemistry and Physics of Modern Materials – J. M. G. Cowie – Blackie Academic & Professional, Chapman & Hull Eds., 1991 – 2nd edition.